Sorry if this has been discussed, didnt see anything.
So I have a couple figs that are leaners. From what I can tell it seems to be some what of an isolated case. For example I have two of the same figure, different paint apps, one leans and the other doesn't. I assume this deformation is probably done when they are pulling the vinyl out of the molds? What do you think?
What ticks me off the most though is that the maker actually passes the leaners through. I mean come on, we're paying a lot of money, it wouldn't take a lot of time to see if it stands.

I've heard others trying the hair dryer route, is there much success that route?

Hair dryer has worked on some horribly deformed legs for me. Heat it REALLY HOT, stand the figure forcefully the way you want it, cool the leg quickly in place if possible.

Don't ever own a Zollmen Mad Baron

or a pepora

I just bought some Para Babies of someone and one of them has massively stomped legs and they can't be fixed. His leg is actually warped so no ammount of hairdryer will fix it.

i had the same problem with a parababy figure as well, so warped and messed up nothing could fix it

Try boiling water instead; I have done both ways and I've always gotten much better, more lasting results with boiling water. Heat up a pot that's deep enough to fully submerge the legs or whatever parts you're working on. Turn it off once it's at a good rolling boll, then stick the toy in (a nitrile glove (or two, layered) can help prevent steam burns while you do this). Hold it in there for a good 2 - 3 minutes- you want the vinyl really soft and malleable. When you take it out, work the legs like a sofubi deep tissue massage- bend 'em, stretch 'em in the direction they need to go in, going a little bit further than you have to to account for a little snap-back. Have a level surface ready to stand the toy on; get it on that surface and tweak the positioning until you have it just right, in the position you believe it will need to be in to stand, once fixed in place.

Now the trick part: quick-cooling. I always get my wife or son to help, and the way I typically do it is to get the toy positioned correctly on the level surface (usually a piece of board) in the flat-bottom basin of our kitchen sink. Then, as I'm holding it there, my helper turns on the cold water, and we let it run over the figure for a good 2 - 3 minutes. This process has worked corrective wonders on many of my toys!
Give it a shot!

Pretty much all my vinyl junkies collection, but I think that is how all of them are. Can anyone else confirm?

Quite a few of my Zollmen lean too - a tiny ball of blu-tak stuck under the toes does the trick

Someone in Japan must be selling sloping work benches...

90% of all Zollmen figures suffer from balance issues. Despite having cool sculpts they are very very top heavy with awful leg support.

These methods don't screw up the paint?

Well what are the thoughts on the cause?
I get it if it's a pour sculpt, shorter leg the the other, top heavy etc.
Would prolonged pressure in say a box up against other stuff distort it?
The use of heat in the process and in the attempts at fixes makes me think the distortion was in the initial pull from the mold.
Which brings me back to the quality control check.

It's because of the way they get pulled from the molds. Quite a lot of distortion has to happen to get them to come out properly. They are yanked when still hot so even if they were set down funny it could cause this.
As far as quality check is concerned, I'm sure some companies do this check (I know I have fixed up exclusives I've painted before they see there way out the door). With the expense of production I know personally I sometimes feel a rush just to get the figure out of the door and recoup the costs. I would expect this has a lot to do with some companies lack of checking.

I use hot water or hairdryer and then run the legs under cold tap water to set.
As for the concern over paint issue, I would just try to assess what was used. If it's a toy from Japan painted in Japan than it should be OK. The Japanese paints bond flexibly and shouldn't come off. I would be careful of anything painting in the non Japanese paints as they will tend to have a harder finish and then be less likely to flex with the vinyl.

This:

if they were set down funny it could cause this.

… I think, is the key thing most of the time (rather than poor sculpt). I think some producers have good processes and habits in place to insure their toys will cool/set with good balance and standing ability, and some just don’t. I’m a huge supporter and admirer of Shigeki Okuda/Atelier-G1, but damn, the feet on his toys ALWAYS require adjustment! Upon receipt (especially all the Pygmons I’ve owned), the feet are bent every which way imaginable. For the money we pay and the time we spend, yeah, this is annoying; it stinks to have to make time for this somewhat involved repositioning chore so that you can merely put a toy on the shelf (and if I ever get to meet Okuda in person, I will politely give him this feedback). But then, the other side of the coin is that these are tiny operations, continuing to lovingly crank out beautiful, arcane artworks so that a very small worldwide market can keep getting its fix… it’s a small price to pay, right?

Oh, and I have never had any paint problems arise whatsoever with the hot water method; agreed on the points that 3x3 made above re. this, though.

Well I don't agree we the customers should have to pay that price, even if they are small companies.
I do my very best to make sure flaws don't go out in my very niche small ceramics biz.

I really can't see being in a rush or the cost of vinyl being an excuse to paint a leaning toy and ship it out. Yeah cost to get the projects started is high, but the cost of one piece of vinyl can't be that much. I'd eat it or let the manufacture know and hope to get a credit.

oh sh*t. sorry...I'm so used to FB, that I wanted to "like" your post.

It is maddening. The only toys I have that do this are my Exohead MMs. But those are such great figures that I live with it. I tried to reset their feet with a heat gun and it kinda worked, but not really. Maybe I'll try the boiling water method to see if I can get better results.

I hear you, Miles; it's such a basic flaw that it is hard to believe/accept that any toy should go out that way, and harder to understand if you're an artist yourself, I know. What can I say, you're right... I recant!

Haha, Nat. Yeah my Exohead MM, which has only been taken out of its container once was what got me going on this topic. Along with a couple other leaners.
I second the Exohead mm praise, they are amazing. I almost think those, or least the one I have, are just flawed in design. Too much top weight with tiny tiny feet, despite it's feet still being a tad off. If they are all like that then I'd say they get a pass.

Btw so I just got the newest red zazahn. It's a super leaner, though It almost seems like a flawed resculpt or something as the leg seems shorter rather then distorted. Can anyone else chime in on that figure? My green one stands just fine.

Stands to reason that Exohead figures would also lean. The Exohead sculpter is the same guy who sculpts for Zollmen.

if you look at the MM they don't look like they are designed to stand on their own. Just be one of the best figures out there. I don't think any of mine stand, so I just have them all leaned up against a display.